Building and elevator structure



April 23, 1929.

E. E. KLANKE BUILDING AND ELEVATOR STRUCTURE Filed March 11, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet mm a m. M

April 23, 1929. E. E. KLANKE 1,709,914

BUILDING AND ELEVATOR STRUCTURE Filed March 11, 1927 U 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1a v QO..OOOOOOQ- T lanke,

\ L a f v 61mm Patented Apr. 23, 1929.

air star ELMER E. KLANKE, OF IVEUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA.

BUILDING AN D ELEVATOR STRUCTURE.

Application filed March 11,

The invention relates to building and elevator constructions, and particularly to a novel coordination of a building and elevator. The present embodiment is especially adapted to the storage of motor vehicles and other uses which will be readily understood from the following disclosure. The invent-ion has for a special purpose to enable the efficient utilization of a limited area of ground for the erlicient storage of motor vehicles, particularly. Another aim is to enable the storage of motor vehicles in individual garage units in a building of this type, in a practical way. A further aim is to present a novel type of elevator device coordinated with the building construction.

lVhile I am familiar with elevators such as shown in the Patent No. 37 13 1 2, December 5, 1887, and inclined ramp structures suitable for storing motor vehicles in some of which the floor has been in helicoidal form, still it is an aim of my invention to effect improvements in the uses of such structures.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention reside in the particular construction, arrangement and combination of parts. as will be understood from the following description and accompanying drawings wherein,

Figure 1 is a vertical cross sectional view of a building constructed in accordance with my invention, the elevator being shown in side elevation;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section thereof;

Figure 3 is a detail of the trackway;

Figures 4 and 5 are details of the elevator structure.

Figure 6 is a diagram of the motor control circuits.

Figure 7 is a plan of a modified building.

There is illustrated a garage building 10, adapted to be erected as a monolithic ma sonry structure by the use of plastic concrete, in which there may be incorporated any usual method of reinforcement and other practices approved in this work. The building consists of a cylindrical exterior wall 11 within which there is arranged a helicoidal series of slabs 12 (that is, like a spiral stairway. in which the slabs 11 correspond to the treads), the pitch of the series convolutions being equal to the desired height of a motor storage compartment. That is to say, beginning with the lowermost slab, each succeeding one is arranged a step higher, so that 1927. Serial No. 174,643.

consideringa complete circle of slabs the next higher slab in the continuation of the series is at a height above the-first slab to afford sufficient clearance for a vehicle storage compartment. vAt the-sides of the slabs vertical radial walls 13 joining two floors may be incorporated, if desired. After one method the slabs extend inwardly from the wall 11 a distance, and terminate in such manner as to form a circularwell at the center of the building of sullicient size to accommodate an elevator 14: vertically movable and rotatable within the well for the elevation of vehicles to the compartments as required. A continuous spiral, single rail track 15 is mounted at the inner edge of the series of slabs. The rail in the present instance is shown as made of angle iron which may be suitably bent to conform to thepath required. The track flange'lti being 'provided with a closely spaced longitudinal series of aperatures so arranged that when two or more rails are arranged in abutment end to end as a part of a continuous spiral, the openings of one will form a proper continuation of the series in another. I

. The elevator 14- consists of a platform 20, upon which a motor vehicle may be driven at the ground level or other floor, this platform being in the present instance inclined upwardly from the entrance side. It is also important to note that in the present embod iment of the building structure the floor that is, each slab is inclined downwardly from the inner edge at the well toward the peripheral wall 11. al line through the slab radial to the axis of the well, each slab is horizontal, as indicated in Figure 1 in the central part, the downward slope of each slab from the well toward the outer part being shownat each side in this view. An electric winch 21 is provided on the elevator from which a cable shaft 24 has four bevelled gears spaced longi-.

tudinally thereon and keyed thereto, meshed with corresponding gears 26 at the inner ends of an equal number of radial horizon- Transversely to a medital shafts '27, which are suitably journalled upon the frame work of the elevator, and preferably arranged on respective radii of the shaft 24 having such angles to each other, as well as being spaced vertically so that their outer ends may project over the rail 15 at properly spaced distances for support and centering of the elevator. The shafts 27 carry at their outer ends spurred wheels 28, the spurs of which are spaced to mesh or lit in the apertures of the rail 15. The bearings at the outer ends of the shafts 27 are especially adapted to enable these to support the weight of the elevator and should also have thrust "hearings to center the elevator in the well.

Electrical connections for the elevator motor and winch are preferably made by means of a flexible cable 30, hung from the "center of the uppermost part of the building over the well, this cable having as much slack as is desired to accommodate the maximum movement of the elevator. Upon the top of the elevator there is formed an annular trough 33, the inner side of which is inclined toward the axis of the trough, and by this means, as the elevator moves upwardly the cable will be laid and ordered in the trough in such manner that the minimum wear on the cable will occur, and necessity for any special take-up obviated. It is preferable that a two-way double pole switch be used for controlling the elevator motor and -the motor ofthe winch, after the diagram shown in Figure 6, sothat it is impossible to operate the elevator motor when the winch is operated, and similarly the winch can not be operated when the elevator motor is in operation.

By the construction shown, upon operation of the elevator-motor the elevator will be raised by the travel of the spur-wheels upon the track 15, and at the same time the elevator will be bodily rotated so that as it 'moves upwardly through each stage of height of the building the entrance and exit side of the elevator will be alined with each succeeding respective chamber and slab. Motor vehicles may be runoff of the platform of the elevator by reversin the winch to allow the vehicle to move y gravity owing to the inclination of the platform and the building floor.

It will be seen that necessity for continuous verticalguides is obviated by my elevator construction, and the mounting of the elevator made unusually secure, as well as manner of lifting simplified, obviating the element of excessive Wear involved by the use of hoisting cablesand providing a con struction which is liable in the minimum degree to deterioration or damage by wear or handling by untrained operatives. The construction may be varied in various ways within the'scope of the invention, but it is ,plan of a building 41.

evident that an extremely simple structure only is required.

The manner of construction of the building and elevator mounting is adapted to permit very simple manufacturing and build ing construction methods, involving a minimum of liability of fault in design. In addition, only ordinary experience in concrete building construction is required to enable this type of building to be readily designed and erected. The elevator construction also is of a simple character which is liable in a minimum degree to failure and may be made proof against dropping, or objectionably rapid descent by ordinary precautionary measures.

\Vhile the building has been shown as circular, this is not essential as will be readily understood and it may be made in various other shapes and of greater area, as may be desired for the uses contemplated.

In the embodiment shown, tracks 35 are shown on each slab 12 so that vehicles being moved from the elevator will be guided properly into positions on the floors of the building. The tracks may be formed of channel iron of proper size laid 'with the flanges projected upwardly to serve as guides for the wheels of the vehicles.

The elevator shown includes uprights 36, two adjacent each of four radii of the elevator shaft spaced 90 degrees apart, and on these the bearings for the shafts 27 are mounted. The elevator may however be of any approved construction. The bearings for the inner ends of the shafts 27 being thus of optional construction are omitted in order to enable simpler representation of the essential mechanical features.

The spiral slab-series structure may be combined with a building having horizontal floors of standard construction, as indicated in Figure 7, which illustrates an upper floor Here 10 indicates a structure corresponding to that of Figures 1 and 2 with a square ground plan, and forming part of the larger building 41 which has horizontal floors which are alined with a vertically alined series of slabs of the structure 10', preferably an inner series so that they may be used as vehicle entrances from the floors of the building ll or as halls, as indicated at $2. The structure 10' may be used for the storage of motor vehicles or for other purposes in connection with the building 41. The horizontal floors maybe either sub-divided as ofiices 43 as shown, or otherwise used. The elevator 14 may be used solely as a freight and vehicle elevator,

and other approved forms of elevators used for passenger service in the building 41.

This method of construction meetsa much felt need in commercial districts of large cities where the accommodation of motor vehicles of occupants of office buildings. is

a serious problem. With my invention occu-' pants of a floor may be assigned one tier t 4 cells or slabs in the part of the structure, and passto the oflices directly from their cars after the latter are put in place. It is to be noted that the radial walls 13 stop a distance back from the well or shaft for the elevator 14 so that the slabs 12 may be readily used as a stairway. Various modifications of the elevator constructions may be made within the scope of the claims, especially in the nature of the transmission of power tothe wheels 28. the number and form of which may be varied.

lVhile a building such as may be built of Portland cement concrete is represented,

the structure may alsobe constructed of various other materials in accordance with approved architectural methods.

I claim: 1. In a construction of the character described, including a spiral track a concentric elevator structure and t-ractive means on the elevator to travel the track; a building associated with the track way having a floor structure corresponding to a helix of similar direction as the track said elevator being mounted to bodily rotate with said tractive means within the spiral track way, and having an entrance side arranged to aline with spirally successive portions of the said floor under operation of the traction means.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which the said floor consists of'a spiral series of slabs in stepped relation.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which said floor is inclined downwardly from adjacent the trackway, and said elevator is provided with a floor having one edge adapted to aline with the first named floor, being upwardly inclined from said edge, a winch device operative at the upper edge of the elevator floor, electrical means to operate the winch, electrical means to operate said traction device, an electrical source, a service circuit from said source, lead circuits to the two, said operatlng means ncluding a switchdevice constructed to connect the two lead circuits alternatively to the service circuit.

[4. Thestructure of claim 1 in which the building structure has the spiral track coin cident with the mean spiral courseot the floor structure.

5. The structure of claim 1 in which the track is formed. with a longitudinal series of apertures, ELIld'Slld traction means 1ncludes wheels OurnaIledon the elevator frame formed with spurs to enter the apertures of the rail for traction and centering,

of the elevator within the track.

6. An improved building structure comprising a series of horizontal floors, and a splrally arranged series of slabs havlng formed coaxially. therethrough a wellt'or an elevator, certain slabs in said seriesbeing alinedwith respect-ivefloors, and an elevator in' the well havin an. entrance and bein t) 23 series to form-a well, and each floor element of said series comprising an individual storage space, a spiral track fixed upon the structure in the well, of thesame'pitch as the said series of floor elements, an elevator vertically movable and revoluble in the well, wheels carried by the elevator tracking on said track, and said elevator having an entrance arranged to aline with successive floor elements as it moves, whereby the elevator entrance may be alined selectively with any individual storagespace by a single movement.

8. A storage device comprising a building having a helicoidal series of floor elements stopping short of the aXis of the series to form a well and adapted to form individual storage compartments, an elevator in the well having an entrance and being mounted for vertical and 'revolubl'e movement, and

'mcnas to cause the elevator to move vertically and revolubly on the well axis in a relation to the floor elemcntsto, cause the entrance to aline successively with the indiof floors,to cause the entrance of the-elevator to become alined with successive floor units incident to lts vertlcal movement.

In testimony whereof'I afiix my signature.

ELMER E. KLANKE. 

